Paris Wilson, 20, was arrested at the scene of the crime on a charge of assault, but could face additional charges. The case was turned over to the New York City Hate Crimes Task Force as a possible bias crime after investigators were made aware of the reported insults.

There has been a significant increase in reported bias crimes in New York City this year, with 68 alleged crimes reported so far this year. In 2012 there were a total of 54 reported attacks.

According to The Associated Press, detectives were investigating whether Wilson had propositioned Nettles before the attack.

"This person beat my baby with his bare hands to death and I don't feel that person should walk the streets because my baby can't walk," she said. "He couldn't even tell me he loved me, I will never hear that again."

Wilson, who was released on bail, does not have a number listed and could not be reached for comment.

New York City mayoral candidates Bill De Blasio and Christine Quinn, the city's first openly gay City Council speaker, denounced the attack.

"An attack against one person, or one community, is an assault against all New Yorkers," Quinn said in a joint statement with other council members. "We ask all New Yorkers to come together, to embrace our differences and to denounce hate violence."